An examination of the dimensions of commitment and satisfaction across years married.

dc.contributor.advisorStoltenberg, Cal,en_US
dc.contributor.authorGunter, Jason S.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-16T12:19:23Z
dc.date.available2013-08-16T12:19:23Z
dc.date.issued2004en_US
dc.description.abstractThis study built upon Adams and Jones' (1997) conceptualization of martial commitment by cross-sectionally investigating differences within and among the three dimensions of commitment and satisfaction across years married. Commitment has proven to be a meaningful construct in the study of marriage. Adams and Jones found that the various models of commitment could each be classified based on the extent to which they emphasize three distinct dimensions of commitment: attraction, morality, and constraint, respectively labeled Commitment to Spouse (CS), Commitment to Marriage (CM), and Feelings of Entrapment (FE). Previous research had not taken into account the dynamic properties of these dimensions throughout the course of marriage. This study proposed to provide greater insight into the experience of marital commitment and satisfaction in relation to years married.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe study used a descriptive correlational design. Married individuals completed the Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS), and a demographics questionnaire. Participants were recruited from churches and from university classes. This sample of 123 individuals was currently in their first marriage and married less than 31 years. Participants were primarily middle class Caucasians.en_US
dc.description.abstractThis study affirmed the conceptual uniqueness of the dimensions of commitment and illustrated how commitment is experienced in response to changes in marriage. Future research on the DCI should further explore the possible interactions between the dimensions, examining their respective causes and consequences.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe hypothesized trends and interactions did not emerge. CM was the only variable that exhibited a significant trend across years married, suggesting less stability than assumed. These unexpected findings were likely influenced by the elevated commitment and satisfaction scores encountered in this sample. FE scores were particularly elevated, highlighting the ability of constraining forces to co-exist with, and possibly strengthen, positive relationship forces. Significant mean differences in commitment and satisfaction were found according to education level, gender, and the presence of children. Relationship stage variables seemed to better account for changes in commitment than the progression of years married. However, trends and interactions may only emerge in longitudinal studies.en_US
dc.format.extentvii, 126 leaves ;en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11244/721
dc.noteSource: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-02, Section: B, page: 1028.en_US
dc.noteMajor Professor: Cal Stoltenberg.en_US
dc.subjectSpouses Psychology.en_US
dc.subjectPsychology, Clinical.en_US
dc.subjectCommitment (Psychology)en_US
dc.thesis.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.thesis.degreeDisciplineDepartment of Educational Psychologyen_US
dc.titleAn examination of the dimensions of commitment and satisfaction across years married.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
ou.groupJeannine Rainbolt College of Education::Department of Educational Psychology
ou.identifier(UMI)AAI3122305en_US

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